Is Hypnosis Dangerous?

Is
hypnosis dangerous? Fear is one reason that people do not try hypnosis. People
are often keen to discover how dangerous hypnosis is before they will consider
treatment. It is natural to want to determine the risks associated with hypnosis
so that people have informed consent just as you would with any other treatment
option.

Hypnosis risks and the B movie myths

The
basis of the perceived risks of hypnosis stem from popular culture, usually B movies which focus on
a Machiavellian controlling character that makes people behave in a way that is
beyond their will. In recent times programmes like CSI have also suggested that hypnosis is used to make people do bad things. But
is there any evidence that you can be harmed by positive hypnosis?

When things have gone wrong with hypnosis

There
have
been reports that people have been hypnotised to do out of character
things which could lead to them being vulnerable to convictions for
criminality. In 2008 an Italian shop assistant was found to be 800
Euros short after being hypnotised to hand over too much change. Whilst
in the UK, the hypnotist Derren Brown used hypnosis and convoluted scene
setting to convince highly suggestible people to commit a robbery and
even confess to a non-existent murder. It is stories like this suggest
that hypnosis can be dangerous.

Stage hypnotist sued for poor directions

So
hypnosis has links to getting people to do something which they would not
ordinarily do. But is hypnosis dangerous? Will it harm you at a psychological or
physiological level?

The
use of hypnosis was not the main issue here but it was the vague and inexact
use of language which lead the participant to relive the feelings of child
abuse. Any skilled therapist would be mindful of how to phrase their language
to prevent this issue. So, in this case, hypnosis was the focus of the report
despite being a secondary factor.

Accidents using hypnosis

Other
examples include someone being struck in the face by another participant who
was directed to do something out of character; and so punched the person next
them on stage or a person who sustained foot injuries after jumping off the
stage because they were responding to a suggestion that they were riding a
horse. These examples have nothing to do with positive hypnosis and would not
happen in the clinical environment, as all clinicians adhering to their code of
ethics. Clinical hypnosis involves training, clinical supervision, adhering to
a code of ethics and ultimately a desire to do good for the patient.

Conclusion

When
you consider the question of is hypnosis dangerous, it has to be taken in context. There is
no evidence that hypnosis is harmful, and the evidence remains inconclusive
that you can be forced against your will to do something against your moral
code. Stage hypnotists have been prosecuted for failing to fully manage the
risks of working with the public when they have been more focused on the entertainment aspect
of their role. Basic common sense around the well being of their volunteers would have prevented all the above stories.

It
is this negligence which has resulted in prosecutions not the use of hypnosis
itself.

The concerns of hypnosis have been tested by
ongoing research and in 1996 the Home Office in the UK published its own report
which concluded that stage hypnosis "posed no serious risk to the
public and that all indications are that there is not a significant problem
directly associated with stage hypnotism".

HSE assessment, Stage Hypnosis poses no threats

Whilst the Health and Safety Executive’s
own study concluded that, "it should be made clear to all
authorities that HSE has no evidence to suggest that stage hypnotism poses a
general risk to the public if it is carried out according to the Home Office
guidelines".

So
is hypnosis dangerous? No more and no less than other talking
therapies. But when an unskilled or negligent person uses hypnosis, the
lack of training may result in unintended consequences.